Dozens of motorists have been fined for parking in residential streets while they were visiting the Weeping Window attraction at Middleport Pottery.

Traffic wardens have dished out at least 40 tickets to visitors who have parked in the adjoining neighbourhood where families have been issued with permits for while the display is going on.

Signs warning of the restrictions had been set up in the area but there have been complaints these were not prominent enough.

There have also been concerns that traffic wardens are slapping penalty charge on cards for people visiting friends and family in the streets after the attraction has closed at 5pm.

The official parking to see the ceramic poppies, which cascade down one of the bottle kilns at the factory, is a former scrapyard with a park-and-ride in place.

Motorists have been fined for parking in the residential streets around Middleport Pottery.

But disgruntled drivers say there are not enough warnings on individual streets.

One visitor, who was fined, said: “There are no signs anywhere to say that you can not park on the streets so people should not be getting tickets. I went to see the poppies on Thursday and parked in Port Street and I got a ticket.

“I think that it is wrong that people are being fined without any warning.”

But ward councillor Alan Dutton says there are plenty of notices – including signs and information when tickets are booked.

The city councillor says £100,000 has been spent on a car park. He said: “There are signs along Newport Lane to let you know that it is permitted area.

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Amelia Bilson, executive director of community group Middleport Matters, says residents need the permits. The 33-year-old said: “As a resident I am in support of the permits because people need to be able to park outside their homes and that is difficult when there are events on at the factory.”

But Amelia says more signs advertising the restrictions should be put up. She said: “I have heard of people getting fined at night which is not right as Middleport Pottery is closed.

“I also think that the signs need to be better because when parking you look for signs at the spot that you are going to park.

“We do not want people coming to Middleport to see the poppies and leaving feeling negative about the area.”

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The impressive structure is part of the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which made headlines when it was displayed at the Tower of London in 2014.

It has been created by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper. The installation will be displayed outside the factory daily until September 16 as part of the final year of 14-18 NOW’s UK-wide tour.

Motorists have been fined for parking in the residential streets around Middleport Pottery.

Councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of the city council says information on parking has been widely provided. She said: “The streets near to Middleport Pottery are subject to a residential parking zone, and more than 400 permits have been issued. There is clear signage to indicate where the residential zone begins and ends, in accordance with current regulations. Additional temporary signs are also being installed at the entry to each of the streets – to reinforce the existing regulatory signs – to make this even clearer.

“People living in these streets have complained about illegal parking outside their homes and have asked us to take enforcement action, which we have done.

“Everyone who has a ticket to visit Middleport Pottery to view the poppies sculpture has been given advance notice about where to park in an email, and this information has also been promoted across all partner websites, on social media and on the tickets themselves. In addition, volunteers and staff at Middleport have been advising people about where they can park.